The importance of understanding and ‘reprogramming’ the tumour microenvironment

Every cancer is a complex microenvironment of malignant cells supported by a wide variety of ‘normal’ cells that are recruited, and often corrupted’ by the malignant cells to help the cancer grow and spread. There are ‘exhausted’ immune cells, over-active fibroblasts and tortuous leaky blood vessels often supported by a stiff and abnormal fibrous mesh. Understanding and ‘reprogramming’ this microenvironment can restrict vital supplies to the cancer and re-awaken the immune cells to recognise and destroy malignant cells.